Apparatus for squeezing webs utilizing alternate hard and soft rolls on different axes



March 24, 1959 E. KUSTERS 2,873,778

APPARATUS FOR SQUEEZING WEBS UTILIZING ALTERNATE HARD AND SOFT ROLLS on DIFFERENT AXES Filed Jan. 17, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT OR E. KUSTERS 2,878,778 APPARATUS FOR SQUEEZING WEBS UTILIZING ALTERNATE HARD AND SOFT ROLLS ON DIFFERENT AXES Filed Jan. 17, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 24, '1 959 is. if.

INVENTOR 600mm #Zsrms ATTORNEYS 8 7 n 8 7 2 w T s m m S S G T NWN TE M S w w QMI SED mum m E WT mum P P A March 24, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 17, 1955 INVENTOR EL E March 24, 1959 us s 2878;778

APPARATUS FOR SQUEEZING WEBS UTILIZING- L ALTERNATE HARD AND SOFT ROLLS 0N DIFFERENT AXES Filed Jan. 1'7.- i955 6' Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS March 24-, 1959 USTERS 2,878,778

E. K APPARATUS FOR SQUEEZING WEBS UTILIZING ALTERNATE HARD AND SOFT ROLLS ON DIFFERENT AXES Filed Jan. 17, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR 600mm 165mm? ATTORNEY March 24, 1959 us Rs 2,878,778

APPARATUS FOR SQUEEZING WEBS UTILIZING ALTERNATE HARD AND SOFT ROLLS ON DIFFERENT AXES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR 60 a 0 4713mm Filed Jan. 17, 1955 ATTORNEW 2,878,778 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 United States Patent ()fiice APPARATUS FOR SQUEEZING WEBS UTILIZING ALTERNATE HARD AND SOFT ROLLS N DIFFERENT AXES v Eduard Kusters, Krefeld, Germany Application January 17, 1955, Serial No. 482,329 Claims priority, application Germany February 16, 1951 14 Claims. (Cl. 118--117) The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for treating webs of material such as textiles, paper or the like and more particularly to apparatus for squeezing such webs. I

, One of the principal applications of the present invention is in squeezing moisture from webs, especially textile webs. The invention has other uses and applications but for convenience and simplicity of description, it will be described in connection with the squeezing of textile webs to remove moisture.

In the treatment and finishing of textile webs there are numerous operations in which the web is subject to liquid treatment andthe web is then squeezed between a pair of squeeze rolls to remove the liquid. Ordinarily one of the squeeze rolls is formed of hard material such as steel and. the other roll is soft. In the prior art, this soft roll has usually been formed of rubber or steel with a rubber coating.

In order to extract the liquid, the squeeze rolls are forced together with very heavy pressure and when wide lengths of material are to be processed, the rolls must be 35 of large diameter to withstand the pressure without deflection. When the soft roll is formed of rubber or has a rubber surface and especially when the rolls are of large diameter, the high pressure causes the rolls to make contact with eachother over a relatively wide surface so that the pressure is distributed over a substantial area. Be-

cause of this large area of contact, the specific pressure diminishes so that increase of pressure accompanied by an increase in roll diameter usuallyresults in a disproportionately small increase in specific pressure. Further,

because of the acute angle of entry to the place of contact between rolls of large diameter, and because of the deformation of the surface of the soft roll, high speed operation causes substantial amounts of liquid to be carried through the rolls with the textile web.

The present invention overcomes these difliculties of theprior art. Some of these difficulties are overcome by multiple operations by the squeeze roll unit as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a squeeze roll assembly in' which squeeze rollsof small diameter may be used at high specific pressures without susbtantial deflection.

Another object is to provide a new and improved squeeze roll system capable of obtaining high specific pressures.

- Another object is to provide a squeeze roll system.for

webs, in which the web ,may be subjected to a treatment liquid immediately upon exitfrom the squeeze roll.

Another object is to provide a squeeze roll system in which the fabric web may be subjected to a plurality of independent squeezes against a single roll.

A further object is to provide a squeeze roll assembly in which a web may -be subjected to a plurality of squeezes against a single roll and in which the squeezing pressure at each squeeze may be independently varied.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatusv I for applying dyes, water proofing'materials or the like to webs.

Another object is to provide an improved method and apparatus for treating webs with liquids.

These and other objects and advantages reside incertain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts and in :steps and processes as will hereinafter be more fully set forth ad pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: f

Figure 1 is an elevation view of a first example of the apparatus, viewed fromthe side in which the textilema terial enters;

Figure 2 isa cross-section through the apparatus on lineZ-Z of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of apparatus; i

Figure 4 shows. another arrangement for supporting,

and loading the squeezing rollers;

FigureS shows a squeezing roller having a core of high density and a resilient surface, the roller being shown in longitudinal section and partly broken away;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

modified form of apparatus;

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9- -9 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a side elevation with parts broken away to show the drive for the rolls;

Figure 11 is a section taken on line 11-.-11 of Figure Figure 12 is a section taken on line 12-12 of Figure 10.

form of apparatus;

Figure 14 is a section taken on line 14-14 of Figure Figures 15, 16 and 17 are diagrammatic views illustrating application of the invention to various fluid treatments of webs.

Figure 18 is anenlarged detail view showing modified forms of the lower roll used for fluid-treatment of the:

web; and

Figure 19 is an end view of the rolls of Figure 18.

In the modification shown in Figures 1 and 2, the" apparatus consists of two upright support members 10 connected by an upper transverse head 12 and a lower transverse support 14. The squeeze rolls 16 and 18 are of. relatively small diameter and extend: across the width of ,the apparatus. Generally one squeeze roll is a hard .roll and the other is a soft roll and bothsqueeze rolls are of such small diameter that'they would not withstand the squeezing pressure without deflectiom,

Throughout this specification, the term fhard roll" means a roll of hard, rigid material such as'steel or other metal or ebonite or the like. The term soft roll means a roll having a soft, yielding outer surface such as a roll of rubber or rubber coated covered metal or a roll such as'thatshown in Figures 5 and 6. The crowns of the v Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section of a further Figure 13 is a perspective view of a further modified.

squeeze rolls are those portions of the squeeze rolls op- .posite the line of contact of the squeeze rolls. -The 31 crown of. the upper squeezeroll is at the top of that squeeze roll while the crown of the lower squeeze roll is at the bottom of that squeeze roll.

In order to prevent either-vertical or transverse deflection under operating conditions the squeeze rolls 16 and 18 are supported by back-up' rolls 20 and 22, respectively, the upper back-up rolls 20 engaging opposite'sides of the crown of the-upper squeeze roll 16 and the lower back-up rolls 22 engaging opposite sides of the crown of the lower squeeze roll 18.

The squeeze rolls 16 and 18 are of relatively small diameter which is determined in part by the diameters of the back up rolls. In a wide machine where high pressures are to be used, the back-up rolls especially back-up rolls of the type shown in Figure 13 mustbe of relatively large diameter to withstand the pressure without deflection. The large diameters result in a large V between the back-up rolls and the soft roll which rests in that V should be of sufficient diameter so that its top is well abovethe tops of the back-up rolls as shown in Figure 7. In one machine capable of handling cloth 54 inches in width and of exerting a pressure of about 330 pounds per linear inch, the hard squeeze roll was of steel 3% inches in diameter, the soft roll was 4.7 inches in diameter and the back-up rolls for the soft roll were elastic ebonite covered rolls 9% inches in diameter. These sizes are not critical but gave excellent results.

The lower back-up rolls may be either a plurality of short rolls spaced along the lower support 14 as indicated in Figure 1 or they may be long rolls of hard strong material such as steel, ebonite or rubber covered steel which extend along the entire length of the lower squeeze roll as illustrated in Figure 13. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and2, the short back-up rolls 22 are mounted on members 24 which are secured to brackets 26spaced prevent transverse movement of the back-up rolls 20 when a textile web is passing through the apparatus. Preferably the front back-up rolls are longitudinally displaced with respect to therear back-up rolls to prevent scoring or the formation of grooves in the squeeze rolls during operation. Neither squeeze roll is journalled in fixed bearings and the lower squeeze roll 18 is usually placed loosely on the lower back-up-rolls 22 for easy removal and replacement.

Between the upper squeeze roll 16 and thelower squeeze roll 18, there may be'arrangedran endless travel ling cloth or band 38 which is passed around the rollers 40. The cloth is'preferably made of a cotton fabric. In the case of printed materials, it is advisable to use-a cloth with a rubberized 'or sized surface, in order to prevent smearing the printing ink'or colors. When such a cloth is used, it collects any metal particles resulting from the weaving which would otherwise have an injurious effect on the rollers as well as the textile material when the moisture is being squeezed out.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 the upper backuprolls 20 are mounted in supports 42 which are pivotally connected at one end to brackets 44 which are rigidly secured to the transverse head 12. The pistons 34 engage the supports 42 to press the back-up rolls 20 toward the lower squeeze roll 18. While there is some slight lateral displacement due to-the fact, that the upper back-up rolls 20-pivot as a group around the axis formed by the brackets 44,;the amountof movement is sosmall that the transverse;

component is negligible. In Figure 3 the lower back-up rolls 22 are mounted in separate brackets 46 fixed to the lower transverse support 14.

Figure 4 shows diagrammatically a modified roll arrangement for preventing vertical or transverse deflection of squeeze rolls of small diameter. In this modification the squeeze rolls 16 and 18 are urged together bylarge drum like rolls 48 and 50 respectively and lateral deflection of the upper squeeze roll 16 is prevented by a pair of rolls 52 and 54 which engage the upper squeeze roll 16 along its sides. Similar rolls 56 and 58 engage the lower squeeze roll 18 along its sides to prevent lateral deflection. In this embodiment the axes of the drum like rolls 48 and 50 should lie in the same vertical plane as the axes of the squeeze rolls 16 and 18 and the axes of the rolls 52 and 54 and 56 and 58 should lie in the same horizontal plane as the axis of the squeeze roll with which they cooperate.

Ordinarily I prefer to form the upper squeeze roll 16 of hard material such as steel and the upper back-up rolls 20 of soft material such as rubber or rubber coated steel. The lower squeeze roll 18 is a soft roll and the lower backup' rolls 22 may be of either hard or soft material but are normally of hard material such as steel or ebonite.

While the improved squeezing effect without deflection may be'obtained in my apparatus with soft rolls of various 1 construction, including rubber and rubber coated steel, I

prefer to use a soft roll having a hard, dense body and a-soft, resilient surface. The soft resilient surface prevents bruising or damaging of the fibers of the textile web, and the dense, hard core or body prevents substantial deformation of the soft roll surface even at high specific pressure so that substantially line contact rather than area contact is maintained between the hard and soft squeeze roll.

A preferred form of soft roll and one which has been found completelysatisfactory, is composed of a numberof thin discs of resilient material arranged side by side on a metal coreand pressed together with high axial pressure. The individual discs consist of a fleece composed of fine fibers such as cotton or other vegetable fibers or synthetic fibers such as the super polyamide fibers. fibers, or a mixture of such fibers, are impregnated with latex and compressed and vulcanized and cut to form disks. After these discs are compressed on the metal core, a cylindrical surface is ground on the roll so that the final roll surface consists of a soft nap of latex-coated fibers. The surface layer, owing to the nap resulting from the turning, is elastic down to a depth of about 3 mm., whereasat a further depth the roll has a high density and core,

surfacelayer of the roll apparently enters into the meshes of the fabric without any danger of the fabric being bruised or damaged and without the area of contact between the two rolls being increased to any noticeable extent.

Figures 5 and '6 show this preferred form of soft roll' as actually made. A central core or shaft 60 is provided with a flange 62. The disks 64 are placed on the shaft and tightly compressed by suitable means such as a hydraulic ram or press. A collar 66 is then placed on the shaft and secured in place by a locking ring or washer 68 which engages in a groove 70 in the shaft 60 to lock the disks in compressed condition. The unit is then cut or ground to a true cylindrical surface.

A standard rubber covered roll 4% inches in diameter was compared with a roll 4.7 inches in diameter made as -shown;in Figures Sand 6 and when squeezed against -a-;3% inch steel 'roll at a pressure of 330 pounds per linear inch the results were as follows:

These Owing to this property of the squeezing roll, a much greater squeezingefiect is obtained, because the- Creased viscose rayon was run through the apparatus under full pressure at 40 yards per minute and, when the roll shown in Figures and 6 was used, the rayon was undamaged.

The soft roll may also be provided with a covering in the form of a thin adherent film of artificial material, especially a material of the class consisting of superpolyamides. The covering film can be made, for example, by uniformly applying the super-polyamide dissolved in alcohol to the turned roller, and, after evaporating the solvent, heating for 3-5 minutes to 160-180 C. The film thereby becomes insoluble and the surface of the roller is made continuous and resistant to wear. A roll which has become somewhat damaged can be repaired easily and with little expense in a similar manner.

Another form of squeeze roll consists of discs of vegetable or animal fibres with a binder of artificial material, forv example of the class consisting of superpolyamides.

The modifications shown in Figures 1 to 6 gave superior performance over prior art apparatus but after these machines had been operated for some time, it was found that the life of the soft-roll could be improved, that additional operations could be performed and that greater flexibility of squeezing pressures could be obtained by modifying the apparatus as illustrated in Figures 7 to 17 inclusive. I

Referring first to Figures 7 to 12, inclusive, the spaced upright supports 10 are connected by a rigid cross frame 72 and the upper squeeze roll assembly is carried by side frames 74 which are pivotally connected to the uprights 10 at one side of the cross frame 72. A channel 76 is rigidly connected to the side frames 74 and extends across the apparatus between theuprights 10 in vertical alignment with the cross frame 72.

r'l'he upper squeeze roll assembly includes an upper squeeze roll 16 which is normally a hard roll and is loosely rotatable in the side frames 74. As in the previous modifications, the upper squeeze roll 16 preferably has a relativelysmall diameter and deflection of the upper squeeze roll, under pressure is prevented by a plurality of short front back-up rolls 78 and a plurality of short rear back-up rolls 80 spaced along the length of the upper squeeze roll. The back-up rolls are normally formed of relatively soft material such as rubber or rubber coated steel and each end ofeach back-up roll 1 is tapered.

Each front back-up roll 78 is rotatably journalled in a pair of flat, segment shaped members 82. The channel 76 is provided with a longitudinal shoulder 84 for receiving one flat face of the segment shaped members 82 and a strip 86 is secured along the front edge of the channel 76 and engages the other fiat face to fasten the members 82 and the front back-up r-olls 78 to the channel 76. Similar segment shaped members 88 carry the rear back-up rolls 80 and are secured in the channel 76 between the shoulder 84 and a strip 90. Due to the segmental shape of the members 82 and 88, both vertical and transverse deflection of the upper squeeze roll 16 is prevented. The front and rear back-up rolls are preferably out of alignment with each other so that the spaces between adjacent front back-up rolls 78 are not in alignment with the spaces between adjacent rear backup rolls 80.

The bottom squeeze roll assembly comprises two parallel-b'ack-up rolls 92 and 94 which are rotatably journalled in the uprights 10. The lower back-up rolls92.

and 94 are usually of hard strong material such as steel, ebonite or the like and the lower squeeze roll 18 is nor mally soft and can be formed of soft, yielding material such as rubber but is preferably of the type shown in' Figures 5 and 6 and described above.

- lower squeeze roll 18 is also of relatively small diameter and deflection'is prevented by the lower back-up rolls 92 and 94.

The mechanism for applying pressure to the squeeze rolls and for opening the squeeze rolls for threading is described and claimed in assignees co-pending application Serial No. 482,279 filed concurrently herewith by Kurt Quoos et al. entitled Squeeze Roll Apparatus.

This mechanism comprises an inflatable tube 96 which,

is located between the cross frame 72 and the channel 76 and extends substantially the entire length of the upper squeeze roll 16. This tube 96 may be formed of any suitable material having the necessary strength and flexibility. A heavy rubber tube or hose reinforced with cord has been found satisfactory.

The tube 96 may be sealed at its opposite ends by clamps 98 and may be connected by piping and a suitable valve to a source of high pressure air or gas (not shown). When at rest, the tube 96 is flat and when pressure is applied the tube 96 tends to assume a cylindrical form and exerts an even pressure over substantially the entire length of the upper squeeze roll 16.

In order to enhance the ability of the upper'squeeze roll 16 to yield to local inequalities of pressure through out its length, slots 100 are cut in the sides of the channel 76 so that the channel may more readily flex under excessive or unequal stress. These slots 100 are normally located near the center of each upper back-up roll.

' In order to lift the upper squeeze roll assembly away from the lower squeeze roll assembly, the cross frame 72 is provided with a shelf or bracket 102 which carries a second inflatable tube 104. Each side frame 74 has a" projecting lug 106 to which an angle section 110 is rigidly secured by bolts 108. One arm 112 of the angle section 110 rests on top of the inflatable tube 104 so that when the tube is inflated, the upper squeeze roll" assembly is raised. The two tubes may be connected to the high pressure air by a single valve or may be controlled by separate valves but high pressure air should not be admitted to both tubes simultaneously.

The liquid extraction by the present apparatus is substantially superior to that obtained by apparatus of the prior art even on relatively narrow webs (9 to 12 inches). In comparative tests at the same loading and speed the mangle of the present invention extracted from 1% to 9% more water from heavy twill, from 3.3% to 14.3% more water from sheeting and from 3.5% to 16.5% more water from raised flannel than prior art apparatus. This superior extraction can be obtained over very wide widths while in prior apparatus, substantial increases in width may be accompanied by reduced extraction unless there' is a disproportionately large increase in pressure.

Referring to Figures 10 to 12, power is supplied from a suitable source such as an electric motor, not shown, to a pulley 114 secured to a shaft 116 journalled in one of the uprights 10. A clutch 118 is slidably keyed to the shaft 116 and gears 120 and 122 are loosely rotatable-1 on the shaft 116 for selective operation by the clutch. The gear 120 is connected by a chain 124 to a-gear 126 which is fixed on the shaft 128 of the upper squeeze roll 16. As shown in Figure 12, the shaft 128' passes through an oversized opening 130 in the wall of the upright 10 to permit raising and lowering of the upper squeeze roll. The gear 122 is connected by a chain 132 to an idler 134 i which is connected by a chain 136 to a gear 138 fixed on the shaft 140 of one of the lower back-up rolls. The two.

back-up rolls are preferably connected by a belt 142 shown inFigure 16.

Normally, the

In order to maintain the chain 132 tight regardless of the direction of rotation, a pivoted arm 144 carries at its outer end a gear 146 which meshes with one reach of the chain 132 and a second pivoted arm 148 carries at its outer end a gear 150 which meshes with the other side of the chain. A spring 151 urges the two gears together.

When the clutch 118 is shifted by means of the handle 152 todrivingly engage the gear 120, power is supplied through the chain 124 to the upper squeeze roll 16 and the lower back-up rolls merely idle. When the clutch is shifted to drivingly engage the gear 122, power is supplied through the chain 132 and the idler 134 to thev lower back-up roll and the upper squeeze roll merely idles. The purpose of these different drives will be described in detail later.

Another modified form of apparatus is illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 in which the uprights and the lower squeeze roll assembly are substantially identical with those of Figures 7 to 12. The entire upper squeeze roll assembly, however, is mounted on end plates 154 which are pivotally secured in the uprights 10 on an axis which coincides with the axis of the lower squeeze roll 18. Thus the entire upper squeeze roll assembly, including the upper squeeze roll, back-up rolls, pressure tubes and upper squeeze roll raising mechanism, are pivotable as a unit about the axis of the lower squeeze roll and may be locked in any selected angular position by a bolt or pin 156 which enters into one of a row of holes 158 in the upright 10.

When the lower back-up rollers are hard and extend the length of the squeeze roll 18, there is not only a squeeze or nip between the upper squeeze roll 16 and lower squeeze roll 18 but there is also a squeeze or nip between each of the lower back-up rolls and the lower squeeze roll 18. These additional nips may be advantageously employed in the processing of webs such as textiles as illustrated in Figures to 17 inclusive.

Referring first to Figure 15, a dyeing operation can be advantageously performed by securing a dye tub or tank 160 between the uprights 10 beneath one of the lower bacleup rolls. An open width of fabric 162 enters the tub 160 and passes under a guide roll 164 at the bottom of the tub then up between the lower squeeze roll 18 and the back-up roll 92 where the excess dye is squeezed out. The web then passes back into the tank 160, under a second guide roll 166, out over a third guide roll 168 and then between the squeeze rolls 16 and 18 where the.

dye is again squeezed out.

The dye squeezed out between squeeze rolls 16 and 18 drains into the V-shaped trough or throat formed by the lower squeeze roll 18 and the back-up roll 92 so as to form an efiective dye bath. The web enters this dye bath.

immediately after being squeezed between the lower squeeze roll 18 and the back-up roll 92 so that it expands from the squeezing while submerged in the dye liquor and thus is more effectively saturated with dye than is possible in prior art apparatus. Of course this operation.

is not limited to dyeing and may be used with other processes such as water-proofing or the like.

Figure 16 shows the apparatus as employed for starchingor sizing textile webs. In this operation, the cloth 172 enters between the squeeze rolls 16 and 18 directly from prior wet operations such as washing. The squeeze in the present apparatus is so efiective that sufficient moisture is removed by squeeze rolls 16 and 18 that the cloth is ready for further processing. From the squeeze rolls 16 and 18 the cloth passes guide rolls 174 and 176 and under a guide roll 178 positioned near the bottom of a tank 180 secured to the uprights 10 beneath the lower back-up roll 94. From the tank, the cloth passes upward over a guide roll, 182 and the excess starch or other treating liquid is removed by passing the-cloth between the lower squeeze roll 18 and the back-up roll 94. The cloth If desired a. shield 170 may be placed over the lower back-up rollbetween the lower squeeze roll and each lowerback-up roll is a function of the angle which the plane of the axis.

of the lower squeeze roll and the lower back-up rolls make with the vertical. For example, if this angle is 45 and the pressure between the squeeze rolls Hand 18 is ten tons, the pressure between the lower squeeze roll and each lower back-up roll will be approximately seven tons. When the upper squeeze roll assembly is pivoted about the axis of the lower squeeze roll, the pressure between the lower squeeze roll and either of the lower back-up rolls may be selectively varied from substantially zero to approximately equal to the full squeeze pressure of ten tons. For example, in Figure 17, the pressure between the lower squeeze roll 18 and the left hand lower back-up roll 92 is substantially equal to the full squeezing pressure while the pressure between the lower squeeze roll 18 and the right hand lower back-up roll 94 is very slight. In the starching or sizing operation illustrated in Figure 16, this variation of pressure at the second squeeze may be used to advantage to control the amount of starch in the cloth after it leaves the second lower back-up rolls as shown in Figures 18 and 19. Thetrough formed by the lower squeeze roll 18 and lowerback-up roll holds the processing liquid which flows outward toward the ends of the rolls. lower squeeze roll is tapered as indicated at 186 and the outer end of the lower back-up roll is provided with a groove 188. A wiper 190 secured to the upright 10 engages the tapered end portion 186 of the lower back-up roll and wipes away the liquid from this portion of the roll. This wiper may be formed of suitable soft, flexible material such as rubber. Beneath the wiper 190 is provided a pair of divergent troughs 192 and 194 which extend outward beneath the lower squeeze rolls and return the liquid to the appropriate tank or vat of respectively.

In treatments of webs as illustrated in Figures 15, 16 and 17 the web is elongated due to the squeezing pressure and treatments between the first squeeze and the lastsqueeze. The selective drives shown in Figures l0, l1 and 12 compensate for this elongation so that there will be no pile-up of the web between the two squeezers.

In each instance, the roll causing the last squeeze is driven directly from the source of power and the roll causing the first squeeze is driven by friction from the directly driven roll. For example, in Figure 15, the upper squeeze roll 16 is driven and the lower back-up roll receives its driving force by friction from the upper squeeze roll. The slip between these friction drives equalizes and compensates for the stretch or extension of the fabric due to the squeezing between the lower backup roll and the lower squeeze roll. In Figure 16, the lower back-up roll would be driven and the upper squeeze roll driven by friction from the lower back-up roll.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I am able to accomplish the object of my invention and provide novel apparatus and method for treating textiles and other webs. The invention has been described primarily with reference to the treating of textile fabrics but it is to be understood that the methods and apparatus are equally withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential character-a istics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore The outer end of thespasms to be considered in all respects as illustartive and not the appended claims rather .thanwby the foregoing "description, and. all changes which come within themeaning andrange of equivalency of the .claims are therefore intended tobe embraced therein.

The presentapplication is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 267,112 filed January 18, 1952, entitled Apparatus for Squeezing Moisture from Textile Material, v now abandoned.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters ,Patent is:

1. Apparatus for treating .aweb with liquid, comprising a hard upper squeeze roll, a pair of spaced support rolls beneath said upper squeeze roll and spaced from said support rolls, =being parallel to the upper squeeze roll and lying in a substantially horizontal plane, a soft lower squeeze roll carried by and between said support rolls, means for urging said squeeze rolls into squeezing engagement, treatment liquid containing means, means for guiding a web upward between one support roll and the lower squeeze roll, and means for guiding said web through said treatment liquid containing means and between said squeeze rolls whereby treatment liquid expressed at said squeeze rolls flows onto the web emerging from between said support roll and said lower squeeze roll.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for varying the pressure between said one support roll and said lower squeeze roll without varying the pressure between the squeeze rolls.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means for urging the squeeze rolls into squeezing relation comprises roll means engaging opposite sides of the crown of the upper squeeze roll and pressure means operatively connected to said roll means for urging the upper squeeze roll toward the lower squeeze roll.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a bracket pivotally mounted for swinging movement about the axis of the lower squeeze roll, means for mounting the upper squeeze roll, roll means and pressure means on said bracket, and means for locking said bracket in predetermined angular relation to said support rolls.

5. Apparatus for treating a web with a liquid which comprises a pair of substantially horizontal squeeze rolls rotatably mounted in spaced vertical planes, means for urging said rolls together under squeezing pressure, means for guiding a Web upward between said squeeze rolls, means for supplying treatment liquid to the trough formed by the upper surfaces of said squeeze rolls adjacent their point of contact, means for rotating said squeeze rolls, a container for said treatment liquid and means on the ends of said rolls for returning excess treatment liquid to said container.

6. Apparatus for treating a wet web with liquid comprising a hard upper squeeze roll, a pair of spaced support rolls beneath and spaced from said upper squeeze roll, said support rolls being parallel to the upper squeeze roll and lying in a substantially horizontal plane, a soft lower squeeze roll carried by and between said support rolls,

means for urging said squeeze rolls into squeezing engagement, treatment liquid containing means, means for guiding the wet web between said squeeze rolls to express liquid from the web, means for guiding the web through the treatment liquid containing means and means for guiding said web between the lower squeeze roll and one support roll to express excess treatment liquid.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including means for varying the pressure between said one support roll and said lower squeeze roll without varying the pressure between the squeeze rolls.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the means for urging the squeeze rolls into squeezing relation comprises roll means engaging opposite sides of the crown of the upper squeeze roll and pressure means operative- 15 ly connected to said roll means for urging the upper squeeze roll toward the lower squeeze roll; a if 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including a bracket pivotallymounted for swinging movement about the axis of the lower squeeze roll, means for mounting the upper squeeze roll, roll means and pressure means on' said bracket, and means for locking said bracket in predetermined angular relation to said support rolls.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including means atthe ends of the support rolls and lower squeeze roll for separating liquid expressed by said squeeze rolls and the treatment liquid expressed by said lower squeeze roll and said one support roll and means for returning expressed treatment liquid to said container. I

11. Apparatus for squeezing webs includingan upper roll assembly and a lower roll assembly, the lower roll assembly comprising a pair of spaced parallel horizontal supporting rolls of hard material anda soft squeeze roll having a soft yielding surface, said soft roll being positioned between and supported throughout substantially its entire length by the supporting rolls, the upper roll assembly comprising a hard squeeze roll above and parallel to said soft squeeze roll, means including backup rolls engaging the upper surface of said hard squeeze roll on each side of the plane of the axes of said squeeze rolls for applying resilient pressure urging said hard squeeze roll into squeezing relation with said soft squeeze roll, said means applying resilient pressure to said hard squeeze roll at spaced points throughout the length of said hard squeeze roll, means for pivoting the upper roll assembly on the axis of said soft squeeze roll and means for locking said upper roll assembly in adjusted position.

12. Apparatus for squeezing webs including an upper roll assembly and a lower roll assembly, the lower roll assembly comprising a pair of spaced parallel horizontal supporting rolls of hard material and a soft squeeze roll having a soft yielding surface, said soft roll being positioned between and supported throughout substantially its entire length by the supporting rolls, the upper roll assembly comprising a hard squeeze roll above and parallel to said soft squeeze roll, means including back-up rolls engaging the upper surface of said hard squeeze roll on each side of the plane of the axes of said squeeze rolls for applying resilient pressure urging said hard squeeze roll into squeezing relation with said soft squeeze roll, said means applying resilient pressure to said hard squeeze roll at spaced points throughout the length of said hard squeeze roll, said back-up rolls being of/soft, yielding material.

13. Apparatus for squeezing webs including an upper roll assembly and a lower roll assembly, the lower roll assembly comprising a pair of spaced parallel horizontal supporting rolls of hard material and a soft squeeze roll having a soft yielding surface, said soft roll being positioned between and supported throughout substantially its entire length by the supporting rolls, the upper roll assembly comprising a hard squeeze roll above and parallel to said soft squeeze roll, means including back-up rolls engaging the upper surface of said hard squeeze roll on each side of the plane of the axes of said squeeze rolls for applying resilient pressure urging said hard squeeze roll into squeezing relation with said soft squeeze roll, said means applying resilient pressure to said hard squeeze roll at spaced points throughout the length of said hard squeeze roll, said back-up rolls comprising a set of rolls on each side of the plane of the axes of the squeeze rolls, each set comprising a plurality of short, axially spaced coaxial rolls, and in which pressure is applied independently to each back-up roll, a flexible support extending over the hard squeeze roll, means for mounting each back-up roll on said support and single pressure means acting uniformly across the length of said support for urging the upper roll assembly toward the lower roll assembly.

14. Apparatus comprising a hard squeeze roll, soft back-up rolls engaging said hard squeeze roll on each 7 11 side of the crown of said hard squeeze roll, a second squeeze roll parallel to said hard squeeze roll, said second squeeze roll having a soft outer surface and a hard, dense core, a pair of'parallel hard back-up roll sets engaging the second squeeze roll throughout its length on each side of the crown of said second squeeze roll, each backup roll set comprising a plurality of spaced coaxial short rolls opposite said hard squeeze roll and resilient pressure means acting independently on each back-up roll for urging said squeeze rolls into squeezing relation, drive means for said rolls and means for selectively operatively connecting said drive means to said hard squeeze roll or to one of said hard back-up rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 292,958 Smith Feb. 5, 1884 12 Ehret Aug. 4, 1896 Edmunds Nov. 22, 1898 Waechter June 26, 1909 Iobke Sept. 22, 1931 Karrer Feb. 13, 1934 Hartmann Aug. 21, 1934 Bamford May 19, 1936 Lade Dec. 8, 1936 Rapport May 31, 1938 Ienkins'et a1 Mar. 25, 1941 Beadle Nov. 9, 1943 Bender Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F RECON I March 24, 1959 Patent No. 2,878,778

Eduard Kursters It is hereby certified that error appear in printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected belom Column 2, line 19 for "ad" read and column 8 line 44, for "of 180" read or 180 column 9, line 1, for illustartive" read illustrative .Signed and sealed this 11th d y of August 1959 (SEAL) A'ttest:

I K R AXLINE ROBERT c. WATSON Attesting Officer Comnissioner of Patent. 

